Friday, August 01, 2008

I actually got the heads up from Bro. Marcus Jones the father of Jena 6's Mychal Bell about this update several hours ago...I am glad that Judge J.P. Mauffray, Jr. was removed from the remaining Jena 6 cases...However, I feel that it was a failure for him to still be a part of this so long after the 'successful' Sept. 20, 2007 rally... He won't be up for re-election, but D.A. Reed Walters is up for re-election and will likely still retain his job as "Lord High Executioner Of Jena"...The fact that Black folks still can't vote in Jena is also disturbing considering that we are 143 years removed from the American Civil War...

With that said we need to realize that as in the cases of Sean Bell, Jena 6, Angola 3 and Baron Pikes that a systemic change in the judicial and educational systems nationwide is needed...We need to stop being reactionary and be revolutionary...We need grassroots organizing transforming into institutional control in our communities...We need direct action with direct results...

What can we do??? We must do whatever it takes by using our gifts and talents as well as sweat equity to make the changes needed, "power concedes nothing without a demand" and "without struggle there is no progress"...Right on Bro. Fred!!! How do you start implementing change??? Start implementing change by changing your self...Meaning be the change you want to see and the change in the world eventually will be staring back at you!!!

Judge Removed From Cases Against 'Jena Six' Teens

By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press

The judge overseeing the criminal cases for the remaining Jena Six defendants was removed against his will Friday for making questionable remarks about the teenagers.

Judge J.P. Mauffray Jr. had acknowledged calling the teens "trouble makers" and "a violent bunch" but insisted he could be impartial. Judge Thomas M. Yeager, who was asked by defense attorneys to review the case, found there was an appearance of impropriety and recused Mauffray.

"The right to a fair and impartial judge is of particular importance in the present cases," Yeager wrote.

Six black teens were arrested and initially charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with a December 4, 2006, attack on fellow Jena High School student Justin Barker, who is white. The charges were later reduced.

Mychal Bell is the only member of the group that has been tried. He was originally charged as an adult with attempted murder. The charge was reduced before a jury convicted him last June of aggravated second-degree battery.

In September, an appeals court overturned the verdict and ordered Bell tried as a juvenile. He pleaded guilty to a juvenile charge of second-degree battery. He now lives in Monroe, La., with a foster family and is attending school.

The case aggravated racial tensions in the tiny, central Louisiana town, and led to a massive civil rights demonstration last September.

Mauffray was out of town, court officials said, and would not comment on the ruling.

District Attorney Reed Walters said he may appeal the decision.

"Whatever ultimately happens concerning the judge, this does not mean these cases go away," he said. "It will just take longer to get them to trial. However, I may seek to have the decision overturned."

An attorney for Beard said he hoped it the Louisiana Supreme Court would quickly appoint a new judge to hear the remaining cases.

"Everyone is entitled to a fair judge, not the judge they want," attorney David Utter said. "It mystifies me why the district attorney would fight this."

James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant

Video: Why You Should Get James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant

Quote of the Moment

"Every great dream begins
with a dreamer. Always
remember, you have within
you the strength, the
patience, and the passion
to reach for the stars to
change the world."

"If I could have convinced
more slaves that they were
slaves, I could have
freed thousands more."

-Harriet Tubman

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Needing Support & Funds.

If you feel that the work that W.E. A.L.L. B.E. doing is IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE SUPPORTED please feel free and welcomed to make a financial Donation, whatever you give will definitely go A LONG WAY IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE: